- When I was little, I named my imaginary daughter Cassandra Alexandra Penelope Phoebe. I liked how it sounded. I still do. My husband disagreed.
- I dislike handling bacon so much that I tell the kids there’s never enough time to cook it before school, even though it microwaves in three minutes. I also hate handling meat in general unless I’m wearing gloves.
- I wrote a series called MR FLAGS when I was in 3rd grade. It was about a tap dancing man who lived in a tree. His wife’s name was Maurice, because I thought it was too pretty to be a girl’s name. This was the first book I got props for, because my teacher read it aloud to the class when I was out of the room and my brother doubled over laughing when he read them. It was my first time writing for an audience.
- I feel like I shouldn’t admit this, but during jr. high, I read all the Sweet Valley High books. A classmate told me her mother wouldn’t let her read them because they were trash. I felt sorry for her.
- I wrote my first full-length novel when I was in 8th grade. It was called THE LIST and was about three friends and the boys they liked. The girls used code names for the boys in various categories, including dogs, food, and colors, so no matter what the topic of conversation was, they could talk about the boys. I wrote it like a serial for my friends, who of course it was based upon. It was my most productive summer ever. My English teacher’s TA suggested improvements, which I ignored but should not have.
- I had my last good English class in junior high, which may be why I was not an English major in college, even though my college has an excellent English department.It also may be why I was so against and suspicious of editing for so long, though that is probably just because I’m stupidly stubborn sometimes.
- I was a substitute teacher for a couple of years. I specialized in high school Japanese, bilingual Spanish elementary, and drama. I guess I knew just enough of those languages to squeak by. I don’t anymore.
- I finished college in 3.5 years due to random extra credits, like the community college class. My college had no winter graduation, so I was never sure which class I was supposed to be part of.
- I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I ate a lot and looked at a lot of churches. I gained about 20 pounds, but it was mostly muscle because I was afraid to take the bus and lived about 2.5 miles from the campus.
- I majored in art, but once I finished college and didn’t have assignments, I never made art. Also, I was too poor to buy supplies. But I always wrote no matter what.
- I can’t tolerate the sun, but I always live in sunny places, like California and Hawaii. When I lived in Washington, I got depression from the cloudy days.
- My husband was an Army Ranger when I met him. He has a degree in Classics, and I loved the whole warrior-poet thing.
- When I was pregnant with my first kid, my stomach was 54 inches around. Newsweek reported that Bobbi McCaughey, mother of septuplets, had a 52 inch belly. She got a free tummy tuck. Why am I telling you this? In case someone wants to give me a free tummy tuck, too, but also because that is an interesting and possibly slightly TMI factoid.
- I am highly allergic to all grasses and dust and pollen, which means when I get flowers I start sneezing.
- I am glad I turned out to be a writer and not an actress, because no one cares what my butt looks like, and only my orthdontist cares that I never wore my retainer.
- I do not finish books that I don’t like and I walk out on boring plays during intermission and movies in the middle. I will never admit publicly to which ones these are.
- I am just short of 5’9” tall, so I always round up. I seem to shrink during the day because I have to readjust the rearview mirror as it gets later.
- I began writing HOW TO BE AN AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE while pregnant with my third child. It was published during her first week of kindergarten, more than two years after I signed the contract.
- I tend to get low blood sugar, so I eat a lot of small meals. Otherwise, I get really hungry and irrational and don’t even realize I’m being irrational.
- Sometimes people refer to things I write on my blog and I get confused because I haven’t told them. Then I remember it’s on my blog. This will probably happen with this list. Sorry in advance for my confusion.
How did your pregnant belly get so big? Now I am off to read more.
That is a good question! I think it’s just how I carried the babies each baby…and they were fairly large. And I gained a lot of weight even while on a calorie restricted diet, like I retained a lot of water or something.
Hi, Margaret!
I adore the way you write. It’s kind of the way I think, so it kind of feels like you’re reading my mind. I just joined the Moms Meeting Moms group on Meetup.org and was looking through the bios of the moms and saw that you are a published author and we share some similar interests. So, yeah, I looked you up. Your blog made me giggle and I totally “got” it. So I’m definitely going to buy your book. I’ve always wanted to call myself a writer, but I don’t seem to be able to justify doing nothing but write without a degree that says I should do so… so I do nothing at all most days. Hmmm…. I started my website just before my husband started talking about this San Diego thing. So I haven’t done anything with it since, but I intend to. When I was writing from my hometown, I felt like an Expert and an Authority on certain areas of life, and like maybe I had something to say someone might want to read about. Here I don’t feel much of anything yet (but still a little pissed, perhaps?). But I’m working on it. Anyway, I’m more North Coastal, but hope to meet you at an event one of these days.
Thanks, Kim!
Hello!
I just finished your book five minutes ago, after starting it on Thanksgiving Day! It came from my aunt, with much recommendation! I had been looking for a while for a book, that was so good that I couldn’t put down and I found it in this book. I got so absorbed in every word and every single character and their feelings! As I was reading, I started to picture who would play them in the movie version if it is ever made one day! I am so looking forward to your next novel!
Sincerely,
Kylee Sartwell
Thanks, Kylee! By the way, who are you picturing in the movie version?
Well, right now, I am picturing Jeff Bridges as Charlie and Selena Gomez as Helena! I think that they might be too young if age is a concern as I know Selena Gomez is a little bit older as Helena but I think she definitely has the looks and I think that Charlie is a bit older than Jeff Bridges as well. I am not too familiar with with many actors that would be able to play most of the main characters. But those are just my thoughts!
Hi Margaret,
I just finished your book How to be an American Housewife, it was recommended at my book club, I usually never can finish a novel with being a mom but this one I could not put down. I could relate to your story on so many levels, I come from a Chinese/Japanese/Hawaiian background in my upbringing and marriage so I can see this turning into a movie some day like Amy Tan’s the Joyluck Club, keep writing and I will continue to read your books!
I’m not sure if this is the blog to respond to your books but i thought it would be a good start!
I just read your book in less than 4 hours and I’m sort of upset I read it so fast! My mother is Korean and my father American (Polish/Czech, if you must know) so I could totally relate to the wonderful Asian mom/daughter dynamic.
Lovely story!
I can totally relate to #7. I feel sorry for the unsuspecting victims who are on the receiving end of my irrationality.